VOLCANO — For 80 years visitors have flocked to the Amador County town of Volcano to marvel at one of life’s simple pleasures: Daffodils springing forth after a long winter to welcome the sun.

But as Daffodil Hill grew — to 300,000 blooms many years — so did its appeal as a tourist attraction. And now it’s become a victim of its own success.

The owners announced Monday on Facebook that they are closing the Hill “indefinitely.”

“While we, the Ryan family, have enjoyed sharing our serene and peaceful Daffodil Hill with the general public, it is with deep sadness that we announce our decision to close the Hill indefinitely.

“This decision is the most difficult that we, as a family, have ever made. The generations that came before us who purchased this property in 1887, which evolved into Daffodil Hill, could never have envisioned that their efforts would have ever grown into such a beloved attraction.”

In a story first reported by KCRA.com, the Ryans said that the limited road infrastructure and parking lots “created liability and safety concerns for everyone involved.”

The post continues: “Due to the thousands of visitors on our opening weekend in 2019, the local road system to our Hill became so congested that the wait just to get to our parking area sometimes took as long as two hours. As a result, many visitors chose to park their vehicles along the narrow roadways and walk through traffic to the Hill, which was a risky endeavor in itself. In addition, these vehicles were parked illegally on the roadway, which, along with the pedestrians, would have impeded any emergency vehicles that needed to access the Hill area to assist our Shake Ridge Road neighbors, or you, our visitors.

“Despite our best efforts, the volume of visitors was just too much for the roadways, the Hill itself, and there is simply not enough space for everyone to park.”

The family noted that they have considered shuttles and a reservations system but decided in the end that the “narrows roads and the Hill property infrastructure cannot be changed.”

Admission and parking were always free on the Hill. The descendants of the McLaughlins, who purchased the property in 1887, depended on donations from visitors to help pay for the 8,000 new bulbs needed each year.

Most years the Hill opened when 25 percent of the bulbs were in bloom and closed when 25 percent of the flowers were left.

The decision’s impact on Amador County tourism was acknowledged by the Ryans, who said they would have no further comment about the shutdown. “We hope our visitors, who have experienced the beauty and friendliness of Amador County, will continue to return often to support our local economy.”